After being swept in yesterday’s doubleheader in Pittsburgh, the Brewers will look to bounce back and finish off the first half of the season with their 60th victory today. Sitting at 59-36, the Brewers currently sit six games ahead of the Cubs atop the NL Central, and no matter what happens today, the first half of the season can only be considered a success.
Left-hander Robert Gasser will take the mound for Milwaukee, as Jacob Misiorowski was scratched yesterday due to what the team described as “fatigue.”
Gasser, 27, has made eight starts this year, with a 2-3 record, 4.15 ERA, 4.90 FIP, and 40 strikeouts over 43 1/3 innings. He’s coming off one of his best starts of the season in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, as he went 7 2/3 innings with two runs allowed on four hits and a walk, striking out four.
Right-hander Paul Skenes will oppose Gasser, and while he’s still one of the best pitchers in baseball, he hasn’t been quite as dominant here in his third season. Across 19 starts, Skenes is 7-8 with a 3.58 ERA, 2.97 FIP, and 123 strikeouts over 103 innings. He’s had a rough go of it lately (at least by Skenes’ standards), allowing at least two earned runs in his last six starts. The Pirates are also just 1-9 in his last 10 outings.
A few roster updates to close out the first half: the Brewers have acquired infielder Braden Shewmake from the Astros in exchange for cash. Shewmake, 28, was a first-round pick by the Braves in 2019 but hasn’t exactly panned out in parts of three seasons in the majors. He’s appeared in 30 games with Houston this year, hitting .256/.272/.423 with three homers, four doubles, nine RBIs, and 10 runs scored across 83 plate appearances. He was designated for assignment on Friday.
To clear a spot on the roster, the Brewers designated utility man Greg Jones for assignment. Jones, also a former first-round pick, has just two hits in 23 at-bats with the Brewers this year, as he’s struck out 10 times. He was an emergency call-up to fill in on the infield after David Hamilton’s injury last week, but with the acquisition of Shewmake, he now finds himself DFA’d for the second time this season.
Right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff was also transferred to the 60-day IL, as it’s seeming more likely than not that he’s done for the season (and maybe done as a Brewer and maybe done as a major leaguer). Right-hander Coleman Crow was also reinstated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Nashville, though we haven’t seen the last of him in the majors.
Christian Yelich is once again in the leadoff spot, with Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang to follow. Jake Bauers bats fourth as the first baseman, followed by Gary Sánchez behind the dish and Garrett Mitchell in center. Sal Frelick, Joey Ortiz, and Shewmake (at third base) round things out.
First pitch today is at 11:15 a.m. on Peacock and the NBC Sports Network. You can also tune in on the Brewers Radio Network.
